Slider-operated fastener



Feb. 24, 1931. s. w. BLAIR SLIDER OPERATED FASTENER e g ge M Filed May 4. 1927 Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE w. BLAIR, OI KIS EAWAKA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO MISHAWAKA RUBBER AND WOOLEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 01' MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, A CORPO- RATION 0] INDIANA SLIDEBFOPERA'IED FASTENEB M invention relates to fastening devices of tlie type wherein opposed series of fastener elements are interlocked and released by movement of a cam member or slider 5 therealong, and has reference more particularl to the construction of the cam member or s der with a finger pull or actuating member whereby the slider is locked against movement along the series of fastener eleo ments. My invention also includes stops for limiting the range of movement of the slider.

In fastening devices of the type to which my invention relates, it has been found desirable in some cases, as for example in overshoes and galoshes, to provide means for positively holding the slider in the closed position of the fastener and it is preferred that the means which is employed for this purpose may be capable of holding the slider at any point of adjustment along the series of fastener elements.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved locking device for the slider of a fastener of the above type, to insure a positive holding of the slider at any point along the series of fastener elements; to control the operation of the lock by the finger ip or actuating member whereby the slider is moved along the series of fastener elements; to avoid the necessity of additional parts to effect the locln'ng of the slider; to provide a locking slider of simple construction, arranged in a compact manner and at practically no additional cost for same; and to provide simple and effective means for limiting the range of movement of the slider.

On the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged front view of the fastening device and slider, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the fastening device and slider of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the slider and fragmentary portions of the fastener showing the finger grip or slider actuating member in the normal position wherein the slider is locked against movement;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the finger grip or slider actuating member in the upraised position in which the slider lock is released;

Fig. 5 is a top view ofthe slider with the finger rip or actuating member in the p0sition of ig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the finger grip or slider actuating member in the same position as in Fi 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7--7 of Fig. 1, showing the bottom stop and connector;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 1, showing the top stop;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a fastener coil showing a modified form of top stop.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a slider body which is provided with a pair of divergent channels 2 merging into a single channel 3 at the lower end of the slider. The divergent channels are separated by a wedge shaped portion 4, and have restricted slots 5 at their outer sides as usual, to admit the tapes or other parts upon the edges of which the fastener elements are mounted. The slider is preferably, although not necessarily, of solid construction or cast form, and the channels in the illustrated slider are of substantially circular form in cross section, to correspond to the form of fastener elements disclosed, these being coils of spiral springs. One of these springs, indicated at 5, may be a plain coiled spring, while the other spring 6 has wave-like formations, which serve upon interengagement of the opposed elements to interlock the coils on the one side between the coils of the elements on the other side and prevent separation thereof otherwise than by operation of the slider. The channels 2 may of course be otherwise formed to correspond with fastener elements of other forms in connection with which it may be desired to use the slider and slider lock.

At the upper end of the slider body, between the ends of the divergent channels 2, is a flat extension or lug 7 having an aperture 8 therethrough which is offset somewhat toward the front of the'slider body or at one side of the plane of the axes of the divergent channels 2. The finger grip or actuating member 9 for adjusting the slider along the series of fastener elements is divided at the upper end to provide a pair of arms 10, which straddle the lug 7, and each of these arms has an inwardly extendin projection 11 engaging in the aperture 8 for pivoting the finger grip or actuating member 9 on the slider body. The arms 10 do not terminate at the aperture 8, but are extended therebeyond to provide wing portions with tips 12, wh ch project over the upper ends of the respective channels 2 when the actuating member 9 is folded down against the front face of-the slider body as shown in Figures 3 and 5, and

in such position the tips 12 of the slider wings are located so as to engage to a slight extent between adjoining coils of the springs 5 and 6 or the adjoining elements of such other type of fastener in connection with which this slider and locking device may be used. When the slider is adjusted to the extreme closing position, these wing tips 12 engage over the upper ends of the springs 5 and 6 or over the ,stops at the upper ends of the springs and thereby hold the slider in the adjusted position and prevent accidental displacement therefrom.

When the actuating member 9 is lifted to the outstanding position as shown in Fig- -ures 4 and 6, the wing tips 12 are swung on the pivot lugs 11 forwardly away from the upper ends of the channels 2 to the position as shown in said figures, so as to leave the channels 2 unobstructed, and thus permit the slider to be operated along the springs 5 and 6 or other series of fastener elements without interfering therewith.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the locking device is operated automatically to and from the locking position by the necessary manipulation of the actuating member 9, so that the locking engagement is released when the slider is being operated, and looking engagement with the fastener elements takes place when the actuating member is folded down in normal position against the front of the slider body, and in the latter position any tendency of the slider body to move in the direction to release the fastener tends to hold the wing tips 12 more securely in the locking position owing to the location of the wing ti s 12 beyond the pivotal connection 811 0 the finger pull 9 with the slider body.

The arms 10 of the finger pull 9 are preferably inclined downwardly at each side of the lug 7 as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2,

so as to arrange the engaging tip portions 12 substantially at right angles to the axes of the channels 2 and to bring these tip portions somewhat closer to the upper ends of the channels-2, and this downward inclination also causes the wing tips 12 to swing forwardly in front of the pivot aperture 8 when -ward the finger pull is in the upraised position of Figures 3 and 6 and insures ample clearance to avoid any possible interference of the wing tips 12 with the fastener elements in the slider operating position of the finger pull 9.

It is common practice in fasteners of the corded or bea ed edge as shown in Fig. 7

so that the beaded edge of the tape extends lengthwise of and within the respective spring 5 or 6.

In most cases where fasteners of the s ider operated type are employed, it is desirable to permanently connect the two sides of the fastener at one end for limiting the opening movement of the slider, and it is preferable to make the connection so that the final elements of the fastener will remain interengaged in the extreme open position of the slider. For making this connection I prefer to use a sheet metal member 15 which is engaged over the interlocked extremities of the springs 5 and 6 and the adjoining corded edges of the tapes or stringers 14 as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and this plate has a pair of prongs 16 and 17 at each end which penetrate the tapes or stringers 14 behind the corded. or beaded edge and are bent inwardly and clinched as shown in Fig. 2. The upper prongs 16 may be bent over and between the coils of the springs 5 and 6, so as to more or less embrace the corded or beaded edges .of the tapes or stringers 14, and the lower prongs 17 are preferably bent over and iny to embrace the corded or beaded edges of the stringers or tapes 14 substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. This not only rovides a. simple and effective connection 0 the two sides of the fasteners but affords an effective stop to limit the opening movement of the slider. I

It is also necessary in most cases to provide one or more stops at the ends remote from the permanent connection 15 to limit the closing movement of the slider and prevent withdrawal of the latter from the stringers and fastener elements. For this purpose I prefer to usean elongated sheet metal member 18 of U-shape in cross section which engages the corded or beaded edge of the stringer 14 and projects down through a number of coils or loops of the respective springs 5 or 6, and the member 18 has a pair of laterally extending ears 19 which are clamped against the tape 14 and one of these has a projection 20 engaged into the tape for holding the stop member 18 permanently in position. One of these stop members 18 is sufficient to limit amass the closing niovement of the slider, but I prefer to provide a stop member 18 at the up er end of each spring and 6 as shown.

nother form of top stop member which 5 may be satisfactorily used is shown in Fig. 10, an consists of a staple having'two prongs 21, which are inserted throu h a number of loops or coils 22 at the end of the sprin 5 or 6 with a head 23 for limiting the insertion of the staple. For holding the staple in the end of the spring, the ends of the prongs or arms 21 are sprung outward as at 24, so as to afford suflicient frictional engagement between a pair of adjoining coils 21 to hold the staple securel in place.

Whi e I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the rinciples go of my invention, the scope of whic 1 is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a slider having divergent channels for interlocking and releas g5 ing opposed series of fastener elements, and an actuating member having an offset portion pivoted to the slider between the ends of said divergent channels and said offset portion being extended beyond the pivot to af- 30 ford a projection for optionally obstructing one of the channels.

2. The combination of a slider having divergent channels for interlocking and releasing opposed series of fastener elements, and

85 an actuating member with an offset portion at the end pivoted to the slider between and in front of the lane of the divergent channels and said 0 set portion being extended beyond the pivot to obstruct the upper ends of the divergent channels. v

3. The combination of a slider having divergent channels for interlocking and releasing opposed series of fastener elements and a pivot lug projecting from the slider between the ends of the divergent channels, and a slider actuating member having a pair of arms embracing and pivoted on said lug in front of the plane of the divergent channels and said arms being extended beyond the pivot to obstruct the upper ends of the divergent channels.

4. The combination of a slider having divergent channels for interlocking and releasing opposed series of fastener elements and an actuating member for the slider having a pair of attaching arms pivoted to the slider between the divergent channels, said pivot arms being extended beyond the pivotal mounting and adapted to swing with the actuating member to and from a channel ob strncting position.

5. The combination with a fastener comprising opposed series of fastener elements and a slider with divergent channels engaged respectively with the opposed series of fasand a stop insertible in a plurality of adjoining eye members with means for retaining it therein.

7. In a fastener of the class described, the

combination of opposed series of fastener elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, and a stop member insertible through a plurality of adjoining fastener elementsand havin an abutment engaging a fastener element 1n the inserted position.

8. In a fastener of the class described, the

combination of opposed series of fastener 7 elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, a pair of stringers on which the fastener elements are mounted, and a channeled stop member inserted through a plurality of adjoining fastener elements and engaging the edge of the stringer, said stop member having means at the end secured to a portion of the stringer for holding the stop member against displacement.

GEORGE W. BLAIR. 

